Equitable access to health services for children aged 5 to 9 in a medium city of northeasth of Brazil : a result of Family Health Strategy

• Autor(a) principal: Santiago, Adriana Xavier de
• Data de Publicação: 2014
• Outros Autores: Barreto, Ivana Cristina de Holanda Cunha, Sucupira, Ana Cecília Silveira Lins, Lima, José Wellington de Oliveira, Andrade, Luiz Odorico Monteiro de
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Institucional da Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC)
• Texto Completo: http://www.repositorio.ufc.br/handle/riufc/17801
• topic: Determinantes Sociais da Saúde; Acesso aos Serviços de Saúde; Saúde da Família

INTRODUCTION: The Brazilian National Health System may reduce inequalities in access to health services through strategies that can reach those most in need with no access to care services. OBJECTIVE: To identify factors associated with the use of health service by children aged 5 to 9 years in the city of Sobral, Ceará, northeastern Brazil. RESULTS: Only 558 (17.0%) children used health care services in the 30 days preceding this survey. Children with any health condition (OR = 3.90) who were frequent attenders of primary care strategy of organization (the Family Health Strategy, FHS) (OR = 1.81) and living in the city's urban area (OR = 1.51) were more likely to use health services. Almost 80% of children used FHS as their referral care service. Children from poorer families and with easier access to services were more likely to be FHS users. CONCLUSION: The study showed that access to health services has been relatively equitable through the FHS, a point of entry to the local health system.